St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-29
SHE is DOING WHAT SHE CAN.
Annual Meeting of the Vermont Branch
of the Woman,a Board of Missions.

Annual Meeting of the Vermont Branch
of the Woman's Board of Missions.
The fifteenth annual meeting of the
Vermont Branch of the Woman's Board
of missions was held in this place yes
terday. The exercises during the day
were held in the South Congregational
church and below follows report of
the exercises:
The morning session opened with a
half-hour prayer meeting led by Mrs.
Perkins of Burlington. At half-past
nine the president of the Branch, Mrs.
A. w. Wild of Charlotte, read Scrip
ture and Mrs. Capron of India offered
prayer. Then followed the reports.
From the secretary's report it APP
pears that four new auxiliaries have
| been formed-in East Fairfield. West
Chariast4.-, -w-arGsueId and Kirby.
Seven new mission circles have been
fornfed-at Pitsford, Fairfield, Saxton's
River, Bellows Falls, West Charleston,
| NofS-. Craftsbury and Barton. The
total membership in all the state aux
iliaries now numbers almost 5000. In
the work of the past year valuable aid
in interesting many of the circles in
mission work has been rendered by
Mrs. Emily Montgomery and Miss
Martha Gleason, (missiOnaries). A
Christmas box valued at 1852 was sent
the Misses Ely at Bitlis, Turkey.
Among those in the society removed
| by death, Mrs. G.. w. Scott of Mont
pelier and Miss Emma L. Taylor of ST..
Johnsbury are deeply mOurned. Two
young women of the state have decid-
ed to go as foreign missionaries-Mis
Martha j. Clark of Peacham,-daugh-
ter of E. w. Clark who goes to Japan,
and Mrs. English of Essex, who goes
with her husband, Rev. VIM. F. Eng
lish, to Turkey. The secretary's re-
port gave some hints as to future &C
ton and was hopeful and helpful, not
to say inspiring.
From the treasurer's report it is gath
cred that 1888 was contributed by
the Branch last year, which is gain
of $I69 over the previous year.
Next in order greetings were brought
from the parent Board in Boston by
Miss E. Harriet StanwOod from the
Worcester branch by Mrs. Homer t.
Fuller; from the New Haven Branch
10y Miss Emily S. Gilman.
The report of the corresponding sec
rotary, Miss Mary c. Torrey, was OF
much interest, especially that part
which told of the work of the mission
aries supported by the Vermont
Branch. The Misses Ely of Bitlis,
Turkey, have been gladdened by the
return of Mr.. and Mrs. Knapp. These
missionaries (the Misses Ely earnestly
] desire the prayers of all friends OF
missions for the native labOrers, for on
them depends the future work of this
mission. Miss Laura Chamberlin, mis-
siOnary at Sivas, has been much Occu-
pied the past year in the rebuilding OF
the school buildings, and at the same
time carrying on her teaching. She
has nine schools under her care. She
has great difficulty in keeping girls in
her schools as relatives frequently
come and entice or steal them away.
After Miss Torrey's paper came tue
reports from the several vice presi-
dents showing an increased interest in
mission work in the state with AN ad-
ditional number of auxiliaries.
After these reports came mission
airy address from Miss Fanny Gardiner
of Japan, who for the first time look ed
, into the faces of the members of the
Vt. Branch, her foster mother. Fol
eight or ten years she has been con-
} nected with self-supporting girls
, school of 260 pupils at Osaka and hopes
, soon to return to her work. She spoke
: of the great demand for English teach
f ers, many places offering to furnish
} school building and scholars if mis-
: siOnaries would only come. Although
J the women of Japan are not so degrad
3 ed as in India, still they are virtually
. slaves. AS civilization comes in the
t women are anxious to adopt American
! manners and customs, and much time
has to be given to teach them cooking
sewing, and other customs of civiliza
ton. If women of means, not young
who want to do missionary wOrl
would only come out to Japan and re
lieve the missionaries from this work
they would be real missionaries ant
would not have to contend with tn,
, language, as they could talk and teacl
in English. Miss Gardiner also read
touching letter from Japanese paste
showing how highly the missionarie
are appreciated.
In the afternoon Mrs. Case of Chica
go, president of the Illinois Branch
brought greetings from the West
Miss Stanwood of Boston then CAV
reports from several missionaries show
ing that this good work does "pay,
and asked for increased interest an
prayers. Then came reports frOI
committees.
The principal address of the after
). noon was by Mrs. CaprOn of India. Al
G ter speaking earnestly and affection
l. ately of her interest and love to thi
Is Branch, she said she had message fo
'e them, and gave, "The Master has com
v and calleth for thee" That was said t
N woman, and she arose quickly an
Re came to Christ and beheld a resurret